These recipe ideas for breakfast and brunch on Thanksgiving day will get you through all the cooking without spoiling the main event.

It’s perfectly normal not to know what to eat on Thanksgiving morning. While the famous mid-afternoon meal is extremely well-documented, there is less guidance on what to eat when you wake up. Preparing a big Thanksgiving menu is hungry work, so full-on fasting is simply not an option.

The first decision is whether to gird yourself for battle with an early breakfast or take a break in the action for brunch later on. In either case, these quick recipes walk the fine line of being satisfying while not spoiling your appetite. Oh, and if you’re wondering what to do with the leftovers of all your Thanksgiving dishes the morning after, look no further than our Stuffing Hash or French Toast Turkey Sandwich!